Strawberry growers all over Latvia urgently invite people who would be ready to participate in berry harvesting to respond. Acute lack of labor. If the berries or fruits rot in the field, it will mean not only immediate losses for farmers, but also difficulties in preparing for the new season.
The Minister of Agriculture’s hopes that strawberries will be picked by the unemployed have not materialized. Not even those laid off in the Covid-19 crisis go to the field in sufficient numbers. But the biggest blow is the unsupported opportunity of politicians to admit seasonal migrant workers, for example, from Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova or Georgia during the emergency.
The farm “Mālpils strawberries” needs more than 200 strawberry readers every day. Only 70 have been found. It is the first time in such a 30-year existence that such great difficulties have occurred. The Latvian Fruit Growers’ Association says that this is the case throughout the country.
Due to labor shortages on strawberry and other berry farms, much of the crop may not be harvested by rotting in the field.
“It simply came to my notice then. The berries are ripe, but there is no one to pick them. The heart hurts a lot. We have far too few readers. In reality, this means that the crop remains in the field. There is no profit, ”says Ginta Apsīte, the owner of JSC“ Mālpils zemenes ”.
The main problem is that seasonal migrant workers, mostly from Ukraine, are not allowed into Latvia due to Covid-19. All the major farmers’ organizations asked the government to follow the example of Germany and Poland and allow migrant workers to enter Latvia for the harvest. This request was ignored even by the Ministry of Agriculture.
“We were not allowed to. We called, wrote, prayed several times, but there was no response, ”says Apsīte.
Permission was granted only on June 10, until the end of the emergency. But then it was too late to invite migrant workers. “These are visas again, as long as they are submitted, as long as they are allowed, while they are settled there. This is a month, ”explains Apsīte.
For example, the migrant workers found by this farm “Mālpils strawberries” have meanwhile found work in Germany and Poland.
“Mālpils strawberries” grows in 26 hectares of wide fields. In hot weather, much of the strawberries ripen quickly and need to be harvested quickly. “Mālpils strawberries” is currently being saved by pupils, students, pensioners and those who want to earn money. They have temporarily emigrated to various places from Latvia to Mālpils region. The farm provides living next to a strawberry field.
“I am from Rūjiena, Naukšēni. Not crazy. All day in the fresh air. Many are afraid, but the work is not really hard, ”says strawberry reader Raivis.
In her turn, strawberry reader Inese points out: “I am from Latgale. Kārsavas. The children wanted to work, and I came with them to work on vacation. It’s easy to work with, it’s not complicated. ”
In almost all strawberry fields in Latvia, foreign students are in a hurry. “We lost our job in Riga due to Covid-19. We gladly moved to the countryside for the summer. We live in a trailer park. At least there is a chance to make money. After that, we will return to Riga, where we study economics in the master’s program at RTU, ”says strawberry reader Tānia.
Salary for each kilogram collected. The range of payments throughout Latvia – from 40 to 70 euro cents per kilogram. The sharpest hands are able to earn 750 euros per hand in 10 days.
Farmers’ organizations were concerned that the Ministry of Agriculture is generally not trying to make it easier to attract seasonal migrant workers from abroad.
“It simply came to our notice then. The Ministry of Agriculture is run by the “National Union” and they are already opposed to any imports from third countries. But do not go deep. They will not live here anymore. They do their work and leave, ”says Māra Rudzāte, Chairwoman of the Board of the Latvian Fruit Growers Association.
Jānis Eglītis, Head of the Office of the Minister of Agriculture, says: “At a time when we ourselves have 60,000 Latvian citizens out of work, we cannot think about how to take a cheaper Ukrainian. That must not be the case! ”
But the strawberry grower says – The Ministry of Agriculture is cut off from reality. Unemployed people in Latvia are looking for work in agriculture.
“We always thought – if a person does not have a job, he will go to do any work, but now those people do not regret it,” says Andris Apsītis, the owner of JSC “Mālpils zemenes”.
In this strawberry field on several hectares is still a late variety. It will also take several hundred people to harvest them at the end of July. In total, many thousands of workers are needed on all berry and fruit farms in Latvia. “Mālpils strawberries” invites every hard-working person to come to the aid so that the berries do not rot in the field.
